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Find the STEM solutions you need
The sessions at the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit tackle the most pressing questions in STEM education today. They prepare educators and schools to do more, including seeking STEM/STEAM designation.
The Ohio STEM Learning Network is proud to offer this preview of sessions coming to the summit. This curated slate of presentations brings together some of Ohio’s top STEM educators. Session areas of focus have been aligned to Ohio’s Quality Model for STEM and STEAM Schools and most presentations feature interactive experiences helping educators connect across a broad range of subject areas and grade levels.
From large urban districts to rural STEM schools, national teaching fellows to non-profits, there’s something for everyone at this year’s event.
Tickets for the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit are limited and going fast. Register today to ensure you can participate in this can’t-miss event.
Session types
There are four session types, designed to not only share best practices, but to tap into the strength of the STEM community across Ohio to solve education’s biggest problems.
Leveraging Community Session
In this 60-minute collaborative opportunity, the session presenter will articulate the dilemma they face and use a protocol to engage the audience in discussion around both understanding and overcoming the identified challenge.
Learning Lab
A 60-minute opportunity that engages the audience as students in immersive learning to experience a portion of an activity, lesson, or strategy that focuses on supporting STEM pedagogy in classroom teaching and learning.
Listen to Learn Presentation
A 60-minute opportunity to share an innovative STEM education practice or the results of research.
Learning Hop
Each presenter will share a resource, strategy, or tool in a 15-minute presentation (at a table with no projector) and informal discussions / Q&A with audience members. After 15 minutes, participants will hop to another section of the room.
Sessions by conference track
Track 1: Culture for Learning
Creating and Executing a STEM Culture: Building a Brand that is the Model for Excellence
2023 STEM Excellence awardee
STEM has evolved beyond a club or an elective. STEM is in fact a movement, encompassing authentic transdisciplinary instruction and Problem Based Learning. Are you a part of the journey? In the Creating and Executing an Authentic STEM Culture: Building a Brand that is the Model for Excellence presentation, educators will explore the current trajectory of STEM education and progress into brainstorming how to create and sustain a STEM presence that is eminent within their communities. This is achieved through establishing a vision and lens through which STEM is studied, that cements your school as an exemplar within your community.
- India Wilson, Principal, Reynoldsburg City Schools – STEM Middle at Baldwin Road Junior High (2023 Excellence in STEM Leadership awardee)
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4042
Why STEM? – A candid conversation about navigating the landscape of STEM education
2023 STEM Excellence awardee
Join us in this engaging sharing session as educators from diverse backgrounds and school settings come together to reflect on the dynamic journey of fostering STEM education. We’ll dive into the triumphs, challenges, evolving needs, and enduring benefits that define STEM education and STEM Designation in Ohio. Educators will candidly share their success stories, wish list of supports, and diverse perspectives of STEM education in their classrooms, schools, and across the state. From innovative teaching methods and collaborative partnerships to funding challenges and staff retention, this open dialog will allow participants to share their voice, be inspired, and connect with colleagues. Join us for an enriching discussion that provides real-world insights, informs future programming, and fosters a collaborative spirit among educators.
- Dr. Robin Fisher, Superintendent / Dayton Hub Director (2023 Outstanding Service awardee)
- Stephanie Adams Taylor, Director of Strategic Partnerships / Dayton Hub Director
Session Type: Leveraging Community
ID: 4478
Coaching Genius: Empowering Student Voice in the STEM Classroom
Explore “Coaching Genius: Empowering Student Voice in the STEM Classroom” and discover an innovative personalized learning program suitable for implementation across diverse classrooms. This session will delve into the practical aspects of Coaching Genius, a program that integrates passion projects with STEM career exploration. Participants will gain insights into how students, through design thinking skills, engage in in-depth problem-solving aligned with their interests. The presentation will provide an overview of the steps involved in bringing Coaching Genius to your classroom offering a practical approach to enhance STEM education through student voice.
- Jocelyn Browning, STEM Coordinator, The PAST Foundation
Session Type: Learning Hop
ID: 4482
Culturally Responsive STEM: School-wide Practices for Belonging
Want to increase engagement and create a school environment that values and builds on student culture, language, and experiences? In this can’t-miss session, learn how to foster an atmosphere of belonging that infuses STEM into culturally responsive learning experiences. Hear from trailblazers at Summit Road STEM Elementary School as they share the secrets behind their highly-successful approach to equity in STEM education. Discover how to build a problem-based learning unit that bolsters student identity and enhances STEM culture.
- Latasha Turner, Principal, Summit Road STEM Elementary School
- Sarah Redick, STEM Education Program Specialist, Ohio Department Of Education and Workforce
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4435
From Elementary School to STEMM Academy: Establishing a STEMM Identity and Culture
This is the story of Hawkins STEMM Academy, a K-8 urban school who recently transitioned from a traditional elementary school to a STEMM Academy. You will hear the steps and strategies used as a staff to develop a school-wide design process, STEMM identity, and community values that reflect innovation, an entrepreneurial spirit, inquiry, and accountability with individual accountability. Challenges and setbacks will be shared, as well as successes and buy-in among all stakeholders. You will experience how the community values are taught and utilized daily. Finally, you will be given tips and opportunities to consider how to establish a STEM Culture and Identity unique to your own school and community.
- Cynthia Mandanski, Instructional Coach, Hawkins STEMM Academy, Toledo Public Schools
- Lisa Barton, Art Teacher, Hawkins STEMM Academy, Toledo Public Schools
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4340
Let’s Get Personal! Personalized Learning in the Elementary STEM classroom
Join Chillicothe City Schools and put your own personalized learning plan into action. Meeting the STEM designation requirements for personalized learning can feel like an impossible task for elementary teachers. How can we possibly release that much control to such young students? During this session, you will experience your own STEM-focused personalized learning plan that includes blended learning, conferencing with the experts, collaborating with your colleagues and proposing your own next steps for learning. We will share systems that will help you to start small and think big as you work your way to personalization for every student.
- Dana Letts, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Chillicothe City School District (2020 Excellence in STEM Leadership awardee)
- Heather Tarlton, STEM Facilitator, Chillicothe City School District
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4454
Move the Needle with Personalized Learning
Personalized Learning starts with finding out where your students are performing, what gaps exist and then moving your students forward in their learning. This doesn’t happen through the assess-plan-teach cycle alone. Curiosity and intrinsic motivation to find and do more must be present. How do we as educators tap into the intrinsic motivation of our students to have positive effects on their educational development? Find out how McKinley STEMM is focusing on personalized learning to move the needle for K-5 learners in their school. Participants will gain insight into strategies and resources that educators are using, how learner profiles assist students on a path to achieve their own attainable learning goals, and how they communicate their learning to others. Participants will also hear how educators addressed challenges along the way.
- Andrea Bennett, Instructional Coach, McKinley STEMM Academy, Toledo Public Schools
- Michelle Thielen, Teacher, McKinley STEMM Academy, Toledo Public Schools
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4471
Rebel with a Cause – Using Out-of-Box, Systems Thinking to Innovatively Address Problems of Practice
We all have sticking points in our school ecosystems – nagging frustrations related to student behaviors, implementation of strategies, or school processes! Sometimes solutions are found in the strangest places. Join a fellow rulebreaker and learn about our process for identifying these pain points, as well as how we find, stumble into, or create effective solutions! We’ll dive into how to make changes that are meaningful and sustainable – through exploring the why (or why not?), considering the impact on stakeholders, determining when consensus-building is necessary, and understanding policy implications.
- Krista Miller, High School Principal, Metro Early College High School
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4496
What Now?
Are you wondering, “What Now?” Come join us to process and reflect on your Summit learning journey. All are welcome to participate in a guided cumulative experience to deepen thinking, encourage creativity and generate responses to the critical question, “What Now?”
- Marisa Saelzler, Educator, Just Good Teaching
- Anne Hribar, Educator, Just Good Teaching
Session Type: Leveraging Community
ID: 4437
Track 2: Learning and Teaching
Igniting Deep Learning: Practical Strategies to Cultivate Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Innovation
Join us on a practical journey to make learning more active and engaging. With examples/immediate takeaways for any classroom or media center, you’ll experience how to leverage the Design Thinking Framework and Project Zero resources to cultivate learner skills and mindsets to solve relevant problems. Whether you want to enhance a Math, Science or Language Arts lesson or create an innovation zone, you’ll build on student cultures, assets, and interests while providing access to rigorous learning. Our bias toward action has demonstrated improved conceptual understanding, deep thinking and transdisciplinary learning. You’ll be able to share and scale techniques that lead students to become critical thinkers, resilient learners, empathetic citizens, self-advocates, and purposeful communicators – our Portrait of a Learner competencies.
- Mark Tremayne, Director of Innovation & Extended Learning, Hilliard City Schools
- Susan Cook, Innovation and Discovery Specialist, Hoffman Trails Elementary School
- Carrie Higginbotham, Innovation and Discovery Specialist, Alton Darby Creek Campus K-2
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4501
Branching Out: A Treehouse Hideaway for Houseplants
In this session, you will see a treehouse project completed by two special educators at Hawkins STEMM academy. This project was made possible through a grant from the OSLN classroom grant initiative. This experience provided students opportunities to grow their understanding of nature, mathematics, & design thinking through hands-on learning. Together, we built miniature treehouses that serve as symbols of our commitment to education, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Students designed and built a treehouse for a house plant. They researched how to take care of the house plant, & determine where the best place to put the treehouse. Students also needed to determine how to best support the treehouse without damaging the plant. This is a tiered lesson which enables students of multiple ability levels to be successful.
*This session is a part of a Learning Hop session block
- Monica Cornell, Intervention Specialist, Hawkins STEMM Academy
- Anthony Krerowicz, Intervention Specialist, Hawkins STEMM Academy
Session Type: Learning Hop
ID: 4470
Building an IMAGINE-Nation! Cultivating Creativity and Design Thinking-It’s Elementary!
Just like any skill or content area, creativity and critical thinking can be taught, and the earlier we begin this “training” the better! During this session, participants will become “students” and engage in a few creativity and design challenge exercises. Participants will learn more about the importance of integrating divergent thinking into the curriculum and how to launch design thinking into the classroom using children’s literature. Participants will leave with ready to implement ideas. So put on your thinking cap and get engaged in this session.
- Dee Martindale, District STEM Coordinator, Lakewood Local Schools
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4393
Connecting the Dots: Unleashing the Power of Cross-Curricular Teaching
The question “Why do we need to learn this?” is every teacher’s worst nightmare. Join us to learn a strategy to answer this question before it is even asked without losing your classroom autonomy or your mind. Learn how to utilize the Integrated Teaching and Learning (ITL) protocol to bring down the walls between content areas for teachers and students. See one public STEM high school’s journey to developing cross-curricular units that allow students to see how the content in their courses is related while building a cohesive team with their staff.
- Lisa Gothard, Science/STEM Teacher, East Canton High School
- David Samblanet, STEM Coordinator/teacher, East Canton High School
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4461
Creating a Community of Makers in Education
We will share the strategy and journey involved in engaging and inspiring the next generation of Makers in Greater Cincinnati. In late 2022, members of the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative and the 1819 Ground Floor Makerspace had an idea: how might we inspire more teachers to engage in inspiring the next generation of Makers? We knew that to create a community of student makers, we had to begin with a community of teachers. Join us to learn what happened in June 2023 and how those two weeks changed how we look at “Teaching Making and Making Teachers.”
- Sean Kelley, Director, Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative
Session Type: Learning Hop
ID: 4481
Cultivating Excellence: Personalized STEM Development for Staff
The learning lab is focused on providing STEM leaders and coaches an opportunity to design a plan to address the individual needs of their teaching staff by focusing on the OTES and OSLN designation rubric for STEM/STEAM schools to tailor personalized professional development on teachers’ strengths and student-centered objectives using 7 questions. Several problems of practice will allow you to receive feedback from those who have come up with a solution while designing your school’s plan of continuous individualized professional growth and development plans based on your school’s culture. We will reflect on how to best blend and balance district-mandated PD with the whole staff and individualized PD needs using staff meetings, professional development extended days, and coaching cycles rooted in the OTES professional growth plan.
- Katherine Lovell, Instructional Specialist, Akron STEM High School
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4205
Design Thinking Across the Curriculum
We often think of using the Design Thinking process in teaching science, but what if we applied this method of teaching and learning to other subject areas? Join us as we explore how to shift our thinking of STEM & Design Thinking from being an isolated subject to being an instructional practice that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and communication across all content areas. This session will walk you through how to overlap reading, writing and math instruction with the design thinking process as we share templates, lesson plans and real life examples from our K-2 classrooms.
- Becky Stevens, Kindergarten Teacher, Indian Hill Primary School
- Amy Campa, 2nd Grade Teacher, Indian Hill Primary School
- Ryan Knuppel, 2nd Grade Teacher, Indian Hill Primary School
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4439
Igniting Young Minds: Portable Innovation Labs for Inspired Learning
In the ever-evolving environment of education, the need for innovative and engaging teaching methods has never been more critical. The materials that we have available extend beyond traditional textbooks and classroom lectures. We can embrace new tools and methodologies that not only enrich the learning experience but also equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive today, tomorrow, and in the future.
Powered by PAST and in partnership with Battelle, our Portable Innovation Labs bring an innovative force to education. Our innovative labs have been meticulously designed to unlock unique educational experiences for both teachers and students. In this presentation, we will dive into how our labs can help revitalize the learning experience not only for students but for educators.
A challenge faced by educators is the funding for resources that would aid in experiential learning. In many schools, budget constraints can stop educators from obtaining materials and equipment. Portable Innovation Labs addresses this issue head-on by providing educators with free ready-to-use labs encompassing materials, curricula, and equipment.
We offer a diverse range of labs covering a wide spectrum of subjects, from 3D Printing and Forensic Science to AR/VR, Drones, and Assistive Technologies. With over 20 labs created and ongoing plans for expansion, our mission is to inspire the innovators of tomorrow, one lab at a time.
Join us as we dive into an exciting and transformative approach to education through Portable Innovation Labs. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of this educational revolution.
- Brianna Agomessou – Portable Innovation Labs Coordinator
- Ashley Price – Director of Student Experiences
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 3998
Igniting Futures: The Revolutionary Impact of Project Lead The Way in STEM Education
Gold-level exhibitor
Dive into the heart of innovation with our 60-minute interactive session, “Igniting Futures: The Revolutionary Impact of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) in STEM Education.” Embark on a comprehensive journey through the transformative realms of PLTW programs including Launch, Gateway, Engineering, Biomedical Science, and Computer Science. This session is designed not just to inform but to inspire, featuring a dynamic blend of overview, in-depth analysis, and real-life success stories, featuring Master Teacher in Launch and App Creators, Tiffany Shaw, with Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools.
- Miranda Szink, Director of School Success
- Cristy Cobb, Director of New District Engagement
- Tiffany Shaw, Technology Specialist, Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4236
Unframing STEM: The Strategy of Object-Based Learning
The Cleveland Museum of Art is a learning laboratory for both students and their teachers. From the moment a student walks off their bus and into the museum they are taken on a journey that encourages students to build observational skills, make connections with each other and art objects, and deepen their inquiry, all while sparking wonder and curiosity. In this session, participants will experience STEM education through thinking routines and strategies we can infuse that support students as 21st-century thinkers. Learn how museums can be partners in STEM learning by providing space for diverse perspectives, fostering creativity, and encouraging critical thinking through the interpretation of art. If you are looking at how to engage with object-based learning and integrate art into STEM thinking, this session is for you!
- Jeremiah Myers, Director of School and Teacher Programs, Cleveland Museum of Art
- Anne Hribar, STEAM Building Leader, Incarnate Word Academy
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4458
Unveiling Computational Thinking Across Subjects
What is Computational Thinking and how does it apply to all subject areas? This session delves into Computational Thinking’s significance across disciplines. We decompose it into two components—Computational Skills and Computational Practices. We will then take it a step further and analyze lesson plans to find the computational thinking. Finally, we will end with collaborative discussions on purposefully embedding Computational Skills and Practices into all content areas for meaningful integration.
- Renee Coley, CS Teacher/Facilitator/Curriculum and Professional Learning Developer, Reynoldsburg City Schools/Battelle and OSLN/Code.org
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4346
Track 3: Pathways to Success in Careers
The Impact of Industry Partnerships on Learning
2023 STEM Excellence awardee
The National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School of Akron is supported in and out of the classroom by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company associates. This long-standing relationship has iterated many times over the last 15+ years and has provided many opportunities for our learners they wouldn’t otherwise have. This session is geared toward the 9-12 grade band and is aligned to the designation rubric. Join us to learn about partner structures and systems that enable this great work to continue and how it benefits learning. Featured as a model in the last chapter of Developing and Sustaining STEM Programs Across the K-12 Education Landscape (Dr. Anthony Perry), we invite you to think about how partnerships could benefit your school in ways you may not have thought about.
- Dina Popa, Instructional Leader, NIHF STEM High School (2023 Excellence in STEM Partnership awardee)
- Rebecca Bandy, Chief Engineer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (2023 Excellence in STEM Partnership awardee)
- Sam Crews, OSLN Akron Hub Director
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4473
A Winning Combination – STEM and Entrepreneurship, Helping Students Thrive in an Ever-Changing World
Gold-level exhibitor
- Ilene Frankel, Executive Director, Young Entrepreneur Institute
- Jessica Dragar, Senior Manager, Outreach & Engagement, Young Entrepreneur Institute
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4465
Building Bridges & Opening Doors: Crafting Win-Win Community Connections for Our Students’ Diverse Needs
In this session, we address our problem of practice: What are the specific requests and offers with which we can approach partners that will result in benefit to those partners and, most importantly, our students? Do you have experience developing partnerships with corporations, organizations or institutions? Have you ever been shopping for yourself, only to strike up a conversation with a small business owner about your school? In this session, we will briefly share successes and then use the Consultancy Protocol to develop a plan of action for creating meaningful relationships that will benefit our students’ unique needs. We seek attendees who will ideate with us and share their own experiences.
- John Dutton, Teacher, MC2 STEM High School
Session Type: Leveraging Community
ID: 4453
DriveOhio Educator Toolkit “Test Drive”
Drones! Electric Vehicles! Delivery robots! Are your students talking about these new transportation technologies? Learn how your students can explore advanced mobility career pathways by taking the DriveOhio Educator Toolkit for a test drive! During this session, we’ll introduce free curriculum from DriveOhio and lead the audience through example activities like the Cardboard Vertiport Challenge and the Smart City Adventure. Participants will obtain hands-on experience while developing ideas on how to use this free curriculum in a variety of settings including classrooms, afterschool, summer programs, and more. We’ll also share best practices from Ohio K-12 educators who have been using this curriculum across a variety of regions, grade bands, and school types. Learn more at: https://drive.ohio.gov/toolkit
- Rich Granger, Managing Director, Workforce Development, DriveOhio (Ohio Department of Transportation)
- Mary Schlueter, CEO and Founder, Partnership for Innovation in Education
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4467
How many Ts are in STEM?
The T in STEM stands for Technology, but we seem to forget there are many areas of technology other than computer technology: manufacturing, materials, agriculture, communications, transportation, energy, health. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) several years ago produced content maps of the important student learnings in each of the areas of technology at each grade band. Furthermore, there is an opportunity for educators at any grade level to tie “making” to each of the areas of technology and emphasize a broader understanding of technology and grade level learnings. Deeper understanding of these technology connections can spark learning and the pursuit of STEM study or a STEM career.
- Ted Fowler, Executive Director, Center for Youth Futures, University of Cincinnati
Session Type: Learning Hop
ID: 4452
Middle School CTE as a Career Advising Strategy – Using Learning Blade and other resources for exposing students to CTE pathways
Gold-level exhibitor
Dive deep into the world of Middle School CTE with state dept of education workforce specialist Chelsea Canterbury and Learning Blade VP Joshua Sneideman as they review how and why middle school career exploration is a critical component for your students. Chelsea will review information on effective state-and school-level strategies for career advising and development, including best and most effective practices, with a focus on middle grades programming to increase student engagement. She will be joined by Joshua Sneideman, VP of the OSLN supported Learning Blade STEM career exploration resources. Josh will review the 1st year of impact Learning Blade has had across the state and expose participants to the over 400 online career exploration lessons that can be used to supplement middle school CTE 26 grants.
- Chelsea Canterberry, Education Program Specialist JTC, CBI & Middle School Programs, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
- Joshua Sneideman, VP Learning Blade, Learning Blade
Session Type: Learning Lab
ID: 4485
Using AI to Teach AI
In this session, people will walk away with an understanding of how AI can be used to learn and teach AI and computer science. At Kira Learning we leverage an AI tutor and AI-assisted grading to support people on our platform. We will share how we designed and built these tools, the pedagogy and learning science behind the design and feedback and results to date.
- Jeremy Bhatia, Head of Product, Kira Learning
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4479
Track 4: Disadvantaged and Underrepresented Groups in STEM
Cracking the Gender Code: Girls, Confidence, and STEM
Getting (and keeping) girls interested in STEM goes well beyond exposing them to STEM-related activities, courses and camps. Despite two decades of these types of efforts, girls remain underrepresented in the highest paying and most-influential STEM careers. Learn when (and why) girls begin to make decisions surrounding their STEM participation and how you can cultivate their confidence and increase their STEM interest and identity. Participants will leave with an understanding of why STEM identity matters and tangible steps they can take to foster identity formation in their classrooms – from making role models visible to facilitating collaborative, creative STEM activities and nurturing growth mindsets. Join us to help the next generation of girls persist in STEM careers!
- Sarah Redick, STEM Education Program Specialist, Ohio Department Of Education and Workforce
- Lisa Hinkelman, Founder/CEO – Ruling Our eXperiences
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4434
Making Gold Standard PBL Accessible for all Students
In this session, we will discuss the collaborative efforts & strategic development of Project-Based Learning (PBL) units in partnership with specialists to ensure they meet the dual objectives of accessibility & challenge for all learners. We will explore the role of unified arts (music, pe, art) & intervention specialists in both planning & executing PBL alongside classroom teachers. A key aspect of our discussion will be the integration of dedicated collaboration time, facilitating seamless interaction between specialists & classroom teachers. This is particularly crucial as we often find that specialists may be unclear about their role within a PBL unit or its alignment with the individual goals set for students in their personal plans. We firmly believe in the importance of involving all educators in the planning process of our units.
- Whitney Buell, Principal, Indian Hill Elementary
- Betsy Henning, Instructional Coach, Indian Hill Elementary
- Lee Jimenez, 3rd Grade Teacher, Indian Hill Elementary
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4431
STEM is NOT hands-on activities!
Experience the difference between a STEM activity and a hands-on activity. We will explore common hands-on activities and develop them into true STEM projects/activities. Throughout the session, participants will gain a clear understanding of the definition of STEM while eliminating misconceptions. We will analyze activities and projects in order to expand them from simply hands-on into STEM. There will be a focus on career-technical education during this session; however, attendees will find there is something for everyone and many of the ideas can be applied to any classroom. Learn how to develop STEM projects from hands-on activities while acquiring a multitude of STEM projects and activities to incorporate into your own classes.
- Amory Nance, HS Math Instructor & Department Chair, Collins Career Technical Center
Session Type: Listen to Learn
ID: 4307
